Children as Arrows—Fashioned and Ready

(ROCKWALL, TX — May 1, 2018) An Albuquerque police officer found himself in an unsought limelight last fall. The story of Ryan Holets’ intervention in the lives of a homeless couple appeared on CNN, The Today Show, and many smaller media outlets. Those who missed the uplifting report may have seen the 27-year-old during the January, 2018 State of the Union Address. Ryan, sitting next to the First Lady with his wife, Rebecca, and their new baby, was there to be honored by the President for going beyond the call of duty. Far beyond.

After approaching the heroin-addicted couple behind a convenience store last September, Ryan noticed the mother was very pregnant, which made him scold them before realizing his chance to offer more than routine protocol. When the woman expressed a desperate desire for someone to adopt her baby, Ryan offered to do this—before even asking his wife.

Ryan explained to his interviewers that he and Rebecca had already prepared for the possibility of adoption, and he called his wife “the real hero.” The couple already had four young children (including twins) before their December adoption of the baby they named Hope.

While millions of viewers watched the humble policeman receive his commendation, I saw something more. I remembered Ryan as the happy, energetic boy racing around our church’s nursery. My long-time friendship with his godly mother, Rita, allowed me to now see Ryan as one of his parents’ polished arrows, released into the world by skillful hands.

I’ve kept in touch with the Holets family for nearly 25 years since my family left New Mexico. Rita’s annual Christmas letters have grown longer over the years since she’s the mother of ten children—all home-schooled! Reading her updates often brings to mind Proverbs 31:29, which says, “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” 1

I raised a much smaller brood of children and sometimes felt overwhelmed by the challenge. So, I’ve marveled over Rita’s faithful commitment to her role. With five children still at home, she also finds time to nurture nine grandchildren—Hope became the eighth.

Rita and her engineer husband, David, have sent out five adult children, all sons: three engineers, an EMT, and the policeman, Ryan, who’s also working on a business administration degree. These have all married, and they appear to be following their parents example of viewing children as a blessing.

Psalm 127:3 – 4 says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord… like sharp arrows in the hand of a warrior.” 2

Real arrows vary in shape since they’re designed for different purposes. Author Stu Weber says their performance depends upon “the archer who notches them on the bow… the fullness of his draw… the smoothness of his release….”3

And just as arrows are not intended to stay in a quiver, children must be prepared to go out into the world. Weber asserts that home is the place and parents are the ones to “fashion and straighten and true and balance” children before they fly away.

Especially in today’s culture, parental nurture must include polishing any rough places. We see in the news too many angry young adults who’ve become deadly arrows that target innocent people. Crooked and poison-tipped, they make their mark through evil deeds.

Maybe all the bad-news reports made the nation eager to embrace the story of a straight arrow, the young police officer who saw an urgent need and, along with his wife, gave so much in response.

By Blue Ribbon News faith columnist Patti Richter. Patti lives in Heath with her husband, Jim. She writes and edits Christian faith articles for several publications. Read more of her essays at BlueRibbonNews.com.